The Barclays Premier League thread 2015/2016

[TCO]

De Gea definitely isn't playing. It's going to be Sam Johnstone who isn't even the Fantasy Premier League or Sergio Romero!

[unitedツ]

I think LVG said he definitely wouldn't be starting due to his performances in training. I wouldn't mind seeing Johnstone start. He was okay in pre-season, mainly against San Jose.

Edited August 8, 2015 by unitedツ

[stokeriño]

So DDG might not be playing today.

Interesting. 

Van Gaal confirmed that he won't be in his press conference:

"He tries and does (his) utmost best, but it’s a difficult situation. Now we have to play our first match and I want players who can focus only on the match and he is not capable to do that. He shall not play."

Given that Valdes was just transfer-listed, and the internet tells me that Lindegaard has "been told he can leave", do United really have only one goalkeeper who they're willing to play at the moment? :/

[unitedツ]

There's Sergio Romero aswell, but I've seen people don't rate him much at all. I've only seen a few matches.

[Baddar]

Romero needs to start in my opinion. He has experience in big games, Johnstone does not. I don't think it'd be fair on him to be thrown in at the deep end. Whoever he picks, if they make a mistake, people will just say he should have picked the other one.  

[Whisper]

I'd be more inclined to go with Johnstone, given that he's actually had a pre season playing with the back four who would be in front of him.

More than anything I'm just hoping we do the business going forward so we don't have to rely on our back four and whoever plays in nets!

[Noah]

Some of us are older than Falcao, so...  

and Teej is old enough to be Falcao's dad.

[Baddar]

I agree on the pre season thing. But a costly mistake today could ruin him.

I suppose given the opportunity he'd most definitely want to step in. Guess we'll find out shortly.

 

[Noah]

Did we work out whether Costa was playing or not? The other striker in my fantasy team is pretty shit.

[stokeriño]

Did we work out whether Costa was playing or not? The other striker in my fantasy team is pretty shit.

The closest there is to anything official is Mourinho's press conference prior to training on Friday, when he simply "didn't know" and said it would depend on Costa getting through training that day without problems and how he felt afterwards.

My instinct is that it's unlikely and that at the friendly on Wednesday there was a sense of really hoping one of Remy or Falcao actually start to look good (spoiler: neither did).

One other way of looking at is is that, even if Costa does play, his match fitness will be limited and the rest of the Chelsea team has been playing like shit too, so a repeat of last season's storming start in front of goal isn't expected.

[Baddar]

Leave Benteke alone.

[stokeriño]

I have enough time to watch United v Spurs before I head out to Chelsea later...but on the other hand, it doesn't feel right to start my season with a "can't both teams lose?" match. :/

[Lineker]

Back to Soccer AM: it is now terrible. 

Hope its seriously tweaked from here on in.

[METALMAN]

 

Back to Soccer AM: it is now terrible. 

Back to Soccer AM: it is now terrible. 

why did you go back to it twice then? :/

[Lineker]

Romero starts for Utd.

[EddieG]

Romero does indeed start for United.

[Nerf]

I heard Romero starts for United. Is that right?

[GoGo Yubari]

Tottenham XI vs. Manchester United: Vorm, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies. Dier, Bentaleb. Dembele, Eriksen, Chadli. Kane.

No Danny Rose because he picked up an injury in training. Bah! Dele Alli is on the bench, would be neat to see him.

[Baddar]

Apparently Romero starts?

Good choice. (I hope)

 

[Dan]

Anyone know who is playing in goal for Manchester United?